Quarterback Aaron Murray led the Georgia Bulldogs to an SEC East title in 2012, but a depleted defense will make it tough to repeat next season.

Florida Gators

? Coach: Will Muschamp (3rd season, 18-8 Florida/career record).

2012 results: 11-2, 7-1 SEC; lost to Louisville 33-23 in Sugar Bowl.

QB situation: Junior Jeff Driskel remains the starter after winning the job last fall over Jacoby Brissett, who transferred to N.C. State after the season. Driskel was 10-2 as a starter, missing one game with an ankle sprain. Sophomore Tyler Murphy and redshirt freshman Skyler Mornhinweg are the backups.

Impact players: Loucheiz Purifoy is a playmaker at cornerback, but he will also line up at receiver and is exceptional on special teams. Sophomore linebackers Dante Fowler Jr. and Antonio Morrison are stars in the making. The Gators have high hopes for sophomore tailback Matt Jones.

Strengths/weaknesses: With Driskel and Jones operating behind an improved offensive line, the Gators will have a great run game. But Florida has yet to prove it can throw the ball and its top receiver (Jordan Reed) left for the NFL. Seven starters are gone from the nation's fifth-ranked defense.

Key losses: Defensive tackle Sharrif Floyd and safety Matt Elam were All-Americans and first-round draft picks. All told, eight Gators were drafted and six more signed undrafted free-agent contracts.

Spring game note: The game was changed to a practice due to injuries on the offensive line. Driskel's stats in 11-on-11 drills (9-of-20 passing, 70 yards) weren't impressive.

Georgia Bulldogs

Coach: Mark Richt (13th season; 118-40 Georgia/career record).

2012 results: 12-2, 7-1 SEC; beat Nebraska 45-31 in Capital One Bowl.

QB situation: Senior Aaron Murray enters his final season with 10,091 career passing yards and 95 TDs on his distinguished résumé. Georgia is confident in backup Hutson Mason, although he hasn't played a meaningful down in two seasons.

Impact players: Murray and sophomore tailback Todd Gurley could become Heisman candidates if the Bulldogs have a great season. Receiver Malcolm Mitchell could put up gaudy stats if he can stay healthy. Outside linebacker Jordan Jenkins is a strong pass rusher on a young defense.

Strengths/weaknesses: The skill positions are loaded, especially at receiver and tight end, for a dynamic offense that loses just one starter. The offensive line is a bit of a worry, but the chief concern rests with an inexperienced defense and a secondary that could be vulnerable to the pass.

Key losses: Georgia tied a school record with eight players drafted - the most prominent of those being linebackers Jarvis Jones and Alec Ogletree. The defense lost seven starters and a number of reserves that contributed.

Spring game note: The first-team defense played well against the first-team offense, but Mitchell sat out and Gurley didn't get many carries.

Kentucky Wildcats

Coach: Mark Stoops (1st season, 0-0 Kentucky/career record).

2012 results: 2-10, 0-8 SEC.

QB situation: Spring practices were closed to the media and the new staff has said very little except that it's a legitimate three-man battle with sophomores Maxwell Smith, Patrick Towles and Jalen Whitlow. Smith has enjoyed the most on-field success. Whitlow is the best athlete and had the best spring game (17-of-28 passing, 193 yards, 2 TDs; seven rushes for 49 yards).

Impact players: Bud Dupree seems to have benefited from switching to defensive end in the new 4-3 scheme after playing linebacker in last year's 3-4 system. Receiver Demarco Robinson should thrive in the new "Air Raid" offense along with senior tailback Raymond Sanders.

Strengths/weaknesses: With senior tackles Mister Cobble and Donte Rumph, who weigh a combined 650 pounds or so, UK should have an SEC-caliber defensive line. The secondary remains a weak spot. Offensively, there is no shortage of tailbacks but quality depth at receiver is an issue.

Missouri Tigers

QB situation: Senior James Franklin is back after a 2012 campaign marked by inconsistency and injuries. He appears healthy now and is optimistic about returning to his 2011 form when he threw 21 TDs and ran for 15 more. Franklin leads the competition over redshirt freshman Maty Mauk.

Impact players: Sophomore receiver Dorial Green-Beckham, the top national recruit in the Class of 2012, showed flashes of living up to his hype this spring. Cornerback E.J. Gaines could have a shot at All-SEC honors. Defensive ends Michael Sam and Kony Ealy will create havoc.

Strengths/weaknesses: New offensive coordinator Josh Henson has scrapped the empty sets that were prevalent in 2012, meaning Missouri is likely to use its running backs more behind a veteran line. The defense must stop the run better against the SEC's best teams to begin climbing in the standings.

Key losses: The early departure of defensive tackle Sheldon Richardson (13th pick of the draft) stings. The Tigers also lose nimble linebacker Zaviar Gooden, who fit their Tampa-2 system and was drafted in the third round, as well as running back Kendial Lawrence.

Spring game note: The starters won 21-14 while the quarterbacks struggled, although Franklin was the best of the bunch.

South Carolina Gamecocks

QB situation: Senior Connor Shaw missed all of spring practice recovering from foot surgery, but he will return as the starter this fall. Complicating matters is how well backup Dylan Thompson played as a fill-in last year. He will likely have a regular role as Spurrier reprises his role as a quarterback juggler.

Impact players: Defensive end Jadeveon Clowney not only tops the list for the Gamecocks, but perhaps for the SEC. The 6-foot-6 junior had 231/2 tackles for loss and 13 sacks last season. Receiving/return man Bruce Ellington had over 1,000 all-purpose yards in 2012. Cornerback Vic Hampton is a rising star.

Strengths/weaknesses: Any defensive front with Clowney will be formidable, and senior Chaz Sutton should have a good season at the opposite end. If freshman center Cody Waldrop excels, an offensive line with four returning starters will be solid. South Carolina is searching for more offensive playmakers.

Key losses: Tailback Marcus Lattimore, a fourth-round pick of the 49ers, was not only a dynamic rusher but an emotional leader as well. Safety D.J. Swearinger, defensive end Devin Taylor, linebacker Shaq Wilson and receiver/punt returner Ace Sanders leave some big holes.

Spring game note: There was offense galore in a 44-30 outcome with Clowney and several defensive stars sitting out.

Tennessee Volunteers

Coach: Butch Jones (1st season, 0-0 Tennessee/ 50-27 career record).

2012 results: 5-7, 1-7 SEC.

QB situation: There was little separating junior Justin Worley and redshirt freshman Nathan Peterman this spring. Worley has played in eight career games, including three starts. The competition will spill into August with incoming freshmen Joshua Dobbs and Riley Ferguson joining the race.

Impact players: UT is thin at every offensive playmaking position, but a line anchored by All-SEC tackle Antonio "Tiny" Richardson offers plenty of talent. Linebacker A.J. Johnson (218 career tackles) should establish himself as one of the SEC's best run stoppers.

Strengths/weaknesses: Style and personnel may clash initially as Jones brings his no-huddle, spread offense to a program with few weapons. The defense should improve thanks to a change from the 3-4 back to the 4-3 after UT allowed 35.7 points and 471.4 yards per game in 2012.

Key losses: Cordarrelle Patterson and Justin Hunter were two of the first four receivers taken in the NFL draft, and the Vols also parted with NFL-bound tight end Mychal Rivera and left guard Dallas Thomas. Tyler Bray (7,444 career passing yards, 69 touchdowns) declared early for the draft but wasn't selected.

Spring game note: Tennessee produced only two touchdowns for the 61,067 in attendance. Just one came from the offense.

Vanderbilt Commodores

Coach: James Franklin (3rd season, 15-11 Vandy/career record).

2012 results: 9-4, 5-3 SEC; beat N.C. State 38-24 in Music City Bowl.

QB situation: Senior Austyn Carta-Samuels, a former two-year starter at Wyoming, should get his chance after backing up Jordan Rodgers last year. He'll enter August camp with a comfortable lead over redshirt freshman Patton Robinette and sophomore Josh Grady, who played receiver last season.

Impact players: Jordan Matthews and Chris Boyd make up one of college football's top receiver tandems after accumulating 144 catches and 2,097 yards last season. Safeties Kenny Ladler and Javon Marshall and cornerback Andre Hal anchor a seasoned secondary.

Strengths/weaknesses: In addition to a stout receiving corps, Vanderbilt is deeper on the offensive line and boasts some good young pass rushers on the defensive line. Tight end remains a worry spot. The Commodores face a tougher SEC schedule than last season with a trip to Texas A&M.